Basketball training device

ABSTRACT

A training device for removable attachment to a basketball rim produces a smaller effective rim diameter. The device is of monolithic plastic construction, having a flat upper surface bounded by concentric outer and inner circular perimeters. Associated with the outer perimeter are guidance and stabilizer clips. The guidance clip facilitates placement of the device on the basketball rim, and the stabilizer clips secure the device upon the basketball rim by a snap-on effect with application of downward force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates in general to a basketball device, and in particular, to a basketball training device that easily attaches to a regulation size rim in order to decrease the diameter of the regulation rim.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] It has been well established that a basketball player can be trained to have better shooting accuracy by practicing shooting skills with a hoop of reduced diameter. In this connection, patents have earlier been issued concerning removable attachments for the rim of a basketball hoop.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,414 to Gray describes a basketball shooting accuracy practice device comprising an annular member including a rigid ring of smaller diameter than the hoop, and having hookshaped clips which downwardly engage a basketball hoop.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,441 to Fang discloses a basketball training assembly with an inner hoop, a middle hoop and an outer hoop. All three hoops are concentric and lie in the same plane. The shooting accuracy of the user may be improved by replacing the larger diameter hoops with the smallest diameter hoop.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,789 to Gates discloses a basketball training device including a top portion with a downwardly extending inner edge and a downwardly extending outer edge. The inside diameter of the outer edge is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the regulation-sized rim. Also, the inside diameter of the inner edge is less than the inside diameter of the rim so that the diameter of the regulation-sized rim is substantially reduced, preferably by more than two inches, when the device is installed on the rim. The device is attached to the rim using a plurality of fasteners having a threaded male member and a threaded female member. Each female member has an outwardly extending tab that engages beneath the rim to hold the rim between the tab and the bottom surface of the top portion.

[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,308,059 and 5,480,139 to Owen, Jr., et. al. disclose a basketball hoop assembly comprised of a first hoop of regulation size, and at least a second hoop having a smaller diameter and concentric with the first hoop. Each hoop is attached to the backboard with their own bracket. Users may increase their skills by practicing with hoops of smaller diameters than the first hoop until the user is proficient with the smallest hoop.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,092 to Riepe relates to a basketball practice rim comprised of an annular rim having a plurality of horizontally extended brackets which facilitate mounting to a regulation size basketball goal.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,896 to Pearsall concerns a removable unitary circular add-on rim adapted to be placed over a regulation rim to decrease the inside diameter of the regulation rim. A plurality of spring activated clips secure the add-on rim to the regulation rim.

[0011] It has been found however, that in those instances where the installation and removal of the training device is easy, the device is not durably retained in place on the basketball hoop in the course of extensive use. Those devices which are durably retained by the hoop are generally of complex, expensive construction, or involve difficult installation and/or removal techniques.

[0012] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device removably attachable to the rim of a basketball hoop for diminishing the effective diameter of said hoop.

[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide a device as in the foregoing object which is easily installed upon and removed from said rim.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature which is durably retained once installed upon said rim.

[0015] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature of simple, rugged construction amenable to low cost manufacture.

[0016] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature having means for achieving self-illumination.

[0017] These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a device of monolithic plastic construction for removable attachment to a circular basketball rim of regulation inside and outside diameter and circular cross sectional configuration, said device comprised of:

[0019] a) a panel of ring configuration bounded by upper and lower surfaces and concentric outer and inner circular perimeters, said outer perimeter having a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said rim, and said inner perimeter having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said outer perimeter,

[0020] b) a guidance clip emergent from said outer perimeter as a continuous integral extension and having an operational center axis of elongation disposed upon a circle concentric with said outer perimeter, said guidance clip having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration matching the curvature of said rim with a gap directed radially outward from said outer perimeter, and

[0021] c) resilient stabilizer clip means emergent from said outer perimeter as an integral extension thereof and having a center axis of elongation coextensive with the operational axis of said guidance clip, said stabilizer clip means having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration with a downwardly directed gap representing between 110 and 140 degrees of an otherwise complete circle of said circular arc, said clip means adapted to tightly embrace said rim when said device is forced downwardly upon said rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the basketball training device of the present invention shown in functional engagement with a regulation size basketball hoop.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a side and top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0025]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows upon the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows upon the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the device.

[0030]FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, an embodiment of the basketball training device 10 of the present invention is shown emplaced upon the rim 11 of a regulation basketball hoop having a circular net 12 pendently suspended from said rim.

[0032] The device 10 is of monolithic molded construction, fabricated from an engineering grade thermoplastic polymer, such as nylon, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate and polyphenylene oxide. The polymer may contain reinforcing fillers such as fiber glass or graphite fiber for enhanced resistance to impact breakage. The polymer may also contain phosphorescent materials which cause the device to be self-illuminating at night, or optical fibers which permit controlled illumination.

[0033] The exemplified embodiment of training device 10 is shown comprised of a panel 13 of ring configuration bounded by upper and lower surfaces 14 and 15, respectively, and outer and inner circular perimeters 16 and 17, respectively, in annular juxtaposition. Outer perimeter 16 has a diameter slightly smaller than the regulation 18 inch inside diameter of rim 11, thereby permitting said device to fit snugly within said rim. Inner perimeter 17 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said outer perimeter, and represents the constricted effective opening of said rim when the device of this invention is utilized.

[0034] For the purposes of training basketball players to more accurately throw a basketball through a regulation basketball rim, it has been found most effective to reduce the diameter of the rim by 4.5 inches. Accordingly, the diameter of inner perimeter 17 of the device is preferably 13.5 inches. In other embodiments, however, the effective diameter of the rim may be diminished by between 1% and 50%, based on an individual's current and desired skill level. Upper surface 14 is flat and adapted to be horizontally disposed except for a slight downward incline travelling from the outer to inner perimeters. As best shown in FIG. 5, upper surface 14 meets inner perimeter 17 at a rounded edge 19 having a radius of curvature identical to the transverse curvature of said rim taken in the vertical plane. By virtue of the downward incline of upper surface 14, the elevation of edge 19 is identical to the elevation of the top of said rim. Lower surface 15 of said panel is contoured in a manner as to provide high structural strength to the device. In the exemplified embodiment, radially oriented reinforcing ribs 20 are incorporated into said lower surface.

[0035] Resilient stabilizer clip means in the form of three separate clips 21 are emergent from outer perimeter 16 as integral extensions thereof. Said clip means have an operational center axis of elongation 22 disposed upon a circle concentric with said circular perimeters and whose diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the circular center axis of said rim.

[0036] Stabilizer clips 21 terminate in a distal lip 23 which defines an interior gripping surface 24 configured as a circular arc which matches the curvature of the transverse vertical sectional configuration of the rim. A downwardly directed gap 25 runs the length of the stabilizer clip, said gap representing between 110 and 140 degrees of an otherwise complete circle of gripping surface 24.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 5, gap 25 is centered upon a line downwardly directed from a horizontal plane by an angle A. The preferred value of angle A is between 40 and 60 degrees. The thickness of distal lip 23 is selected so as to permit resiliency while maintaining adequate strength. Although the thickness of lip 23 may vary somewhat depending upon the flexural modulus of the plastic employed for fabrication, a thickness in the range of 0.17 and 0.20 inch is generally preferred. By virtue of the critically selected structural parameters concerning gap 25 and lip 23, said stabilizer clips will tightly embrace said rim when the device is forced downwardly upon said rim. The newly formed diminished size opening of the rim, produced by application of the device, presents a rounded edge 19 having the same curvature and elevation as rim 11.

[0038] A guidance clip 27 is emergent from outer perimeter 16 as a continuous integral extension thereof. Said guidance clip has an operational center axis of elongation which is coaxial with the operational center axis 22 of said stabilizer clip means. Guidance clip 27 has an interior gripping surface 28 of circular arc configuration matching the curvature of rim 11, with a gap 29 directed radially outward from outer perimeter 16. The function of guidance clip 27 is to facilitate placement of the device upon rim 11. Once emplaced, the device is forced downwardly upon the rim, an action wherein the device pivots about clip 27.

[0039] Whereas the stabilizer clip means exemplified in FIGS. 1-6 are in the form of several clips of short length uniformly disposed about outer perimeter 16, a single continuous stabilizer clip 30 may also be employed, as shown in FIG. 7. Clip 30 is shown extending around all the circumference of said rim except for the region 31 where the rim is supported by bracket 32 for attachment to a vertically disposed backboard.

[0040] When removal of the device is sought, a simple upward force applied to lower surface 15 at inner perimeter 17 is sufficient to dislodge the device from its engagement with rim 11.

[0041] While particular examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is: 1) A device of monolithic plastic construction for removable attachment to a circular basketball rim of regulation inside and outside diameter and circular cross sectional configuration, said device comprised of: a) a panel of ring configuration bounded by upper and lower surfaces and concentric outer and inner circular perimeters, said outer perimeter having a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said basketball rim, and said inner perimeter having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said outer perimeter, b) a guidance clip emergent from said outer perimeter as a continuous integral extension and having an operational center axis of elongation disposed upon a circle concentric with said outer perimeter, said guidance clip having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration matching the curvature of said basketball rim with a gap directed radially outward from said outer perimeter, and c) resilient stabilizer clip means emergent from said outer perimeter as an integral extension thereof and having a center axis of elongation coextensive with the operational axis of said guidance clip, said stabilizer clip means having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration with a downwardly directed gap representing between 110 and 140 degrees of an otherwise complete circle of said circular arc, said clip means adapted to tightly embrace said rim when said device is forced downwardly upon said rim. 2) The device of claim 1 containing phosphorescent materials which cause the device to be self-illuminating at night. 3) The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said inner perimeter is about 13.5 inches. 4) The device of claim 1 wherein said upper surface is flat and has a slight downward incline travelling from the outer to inner perimeter. 5) The device of claim 4 wherein said upper surface meets said inner perimeter so as to form a rounded edge having a radius of curvature identical to the transverse curvature of said basketball rim taken in the vertical plane. 6) The device of claim 5 wherein the elevation of said rounded edge is identical to the elevation of the top of a basketball rim upon which said device is functionally emplaced. 7) The device of claim 1 wherein the structural strength of the device is enhanced by radially oriented reinforcing ribs incorporated into said lower surface. 8) The device of claim 1 wherein the gap of said stabilizer clip means is centered upon a line downwardly directed from horizontal by an angle of between 40 and 60 degrees. 9) The device of claim 1 wherein said stabilizer clip means terminate in a distal lip whose thickness is selected so as to permit resiliency while maintaining adequate strength. 10) The device of claim 9 wherein the thickness of said lip is between 0.17 and 0.20 inch. 11) The device of claim 1 configured in a manner such that said guidance clip facilitates placement of the device upon a basketball rim, whereby downward force applied to the device causes said stabilizer clip means to snap onto said rim. 